Microsoft KB Archive/223422

Knowledge Base

WD2000: Error Message: Word Cannot Bring Up the Properties Dialog Box Because the Printer Returned an Error

Article ID: 223422

Article Last Modified on 7/7/2006

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APPLIES TO

• Microsoft Word 2000 Standard Edition

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This article was previously published under Q223422

ERROR MESSAGE

When you click Properties in the Print dialog box, you receive the following error message:

Word cannot bring up the properties dialog box because the printer returned an error.

NOTE: Microsoft Office 2000 has built-in functionality that allows you to get more information about difficult-to-troubleshoot alerts or error messages. If you want to enable this functionality for this and other error messages in Microsoft Office 2000, please download the Microsoft Office 2000 Customizable Alerts file from the Microsoft Office Update Web site at the following address:

http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyID=8FBEE1D3-C5BB-4A36-A2F7-DC63DE2A818C

NOTE: If you reached this article by clicking the Web Info button in an error message, you already have Customizable Alerts enabled.

THINGS TO TRY

Files Required by the Printer Driver Are Damaged

To complete this procedure, you need one of the following:

• Your Microsoft Windows CD-ROM
• The printer driver disk
• The CD-ROM from the printer manufacturer

In Microsoft Windows 95, Windows 98, Windows Millennium Edition (Me), Windows NT 4.0, or Windows 2000:

1. Click Start, point to Settings, and then click Printers.
2. Right-click your default printer, and then click Delete on the shortcut menu. If you are asked whether you want to remove extra files that remain on the system, click Yes.
3. Double-click Add Printer, and then follow the instructions to reinstall your printer driver.

In Microsoft Windows XP:

1. Click Start and then click Printers and Faxes.
2. Right-click your default printer, and then click Delete on the shortcut menu. If you are asked whether you want to remove extra files that remain on the system, click Yes.
3. Under Printer Tasks, click Add a printer, and then follow the instructions to reinstall your printer driver.

NOTE: If your printer model is not listed in the Manufacturers and Printers lists, check the Hardware Compatibility List (HCL) at http://www.microsoft.com/whdc/hcl/default.mspx for an updated driver. If your printer is not on the HCL, contact the printer manufacturer for drivers and instructions.

MORE INFORMATION

The Regional Settings for Your Computer May Be Damaged

Try resetting the regional settings for your computer. To do this, follow the steps for your computer's operating system.

In Windows 95, Windows 98, Windows Me, or Windows NT 4.0:

1. Click Start, point to Settings, and then click Control Panel.
2. Double-click Regional Settings.
3. On the Regional Settings tab, select a different setting from the drop-down list (there are several settings that use English), and then click OK.
4. Restart your computer.
5. Return to Regional Settings in Control Panel, and then select your original regional setting.
6. Click OK, and then restart your computer again.

In Windows 2000:

1. Click Start, point to Settings, and then click Control Panel.
2. Double-click Regional Options.
3. On the General tab, select a different setting from the drop-down list (there are several settings that use English), and then click OK.
4. Restart your computer.
5. Return to Regional Options in Control Panel, and then select your original regional setting.
6. Click OK, and then restart your computer again.

In Windows XP:

1. Click Start and then click Control Panel.
2. If the Control Panel icons are not displayed, click Switch to Classic View under Control Panel.
3. Double-click Regional and Language Options.
4. On the Regional Options tab, select a different setting from the drop-down list (there are several settings that use English), and then click OK.
5. Restart your computer.
6. Return to the Regional Options tab (Regional and Language Options in Control Panel), and then select your original regional setting.
7. Click OK, and then restart your computer again.

If You Are Using a Network Printer, the Printer May Have an Invalid Network Name, or the Printer Driver May Require the Printer Port to Be Captured

Before beginning this procedure, check with your network administrator to make sure you have the correct path and name for the network printer. To capture a port for your network printer, follow these steps:

1. Click Start, point to Settings, and then click Printers.
2. Right-click the icon for your printer, and then click Properties.
3. On the Details tab, click Capture Printer Port.
4. In the Device box, click a port that is not used by another printer.
5. In the Path box, type the network path to the printer, and then click OK to close the Capture Printer Port dialog box.
6. In the Print To The Following Port box, click the port that you chose in step 4, and then click OK.

There Is a Problem with Your Fax Setup

If you receive this error message when you attempt to send a fax, there may be a problem with the way that your fax software is set up.

For additional information, click the article numbers below to view the articles in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

211473 WD2000: Troubleshooting Fax Problems from Word

199043 WD2000: Error When Faxing from WinFax

REFERENCES

For additional information about printing problems, click the article numbers below to view the articles in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

304422 WD2000: How to Troubleshoot Print Failure in Word 2000

304433 WD2000: Troubleshooting Printer Output Issues in Word 2000

128345 Troubleshooting Printing Problems in Windows 95/98/Millennium Ed

243075 How to Troubleshoot Network Printing Problems

163551 Troubleshooting Printing Problems in Windows NT 4.0 and 2000

191516 Cannot Print in Windows

Additional query words: corrupt corrupted

Keywords: kbdownload kbprb KB223422

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